Nobody Smiling (Let The Rhythm Hit 'em - Eric B & Rakim)

Member Name: XICripZ

Product:	Let The Rhythm Hit 'em - Eric B & Rakim
Date:	02/01/09 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great production

Disadvantages: Some tracks are just average

"Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em" is the third album from the groundbreaking duo of Hip Hop artists known as Eric B. & Rakim. The master producer Eric B. once again teams up with one of the greatest lyricists ever, for this 1990 album.

1. "Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em"

As the title track and opener to this album, I found it to be a little less impressive than expected, however it is still a big track for the pair. You get them coming out with the same sort of thing you heard on their last one, "Follow The Leader" with amazing MCing, but with a lack of samples within the production (which made there debut so significant).

**Four Stars**

2. "No Omega"

With a soft beat leading the productions, this is a rather lively track by the legendary duo of Eric B. & Rakim as as soon as you hear the voice of Rakim you are reasureed to be given some amazing Hip Hop, but it lacked the power which others on this album possessed.

**Three Stars**

3. "In The Ghetto"

As one of their most well-known, as definitely the top ne from this album, "In The Ghetto" has Rakim doing some bars about the often difficult situation when brought up and raised in such a poverty-stricken environment with no hope of future prspects, leading to a place where you see "Nobody Smiling".

**Five Stars**

4. "Step Back"

The heavy beat whcih you are greeed by is the first thign you shoud take note of when listneing to this one, and it really switches things up as yuo ge a head-bopping tune to fit inn with what the early nineties East Coast scene was about, when it came to Hip Hop.

**Four Stars**

5. "Eric B. Made My Day"

For me, this stood out as one of the best offerings from this album as you get Eric B. doing as he has on previous releases where he does a DJing jam session. The production in it is incredibly strong, and the way his utilises the beats is what makes it so powerful.

**Five Stars**

6. "Run For Cover"

The beat in this one soudn svery typical one what you get wih Eric B.'s beats, and this may hint on a little drop in the quality of his imagaination, but as always, you get Ra' taking control and making sure that we don't dwell on such flaws in the tune.

**Four Stars**

7. "Untouchables"

In comparison to other tracks on the album similar to this one, this Breakbeat cut from them gives them an opportunity to show what they can do whilst in a high gear and full of energy, which is all expelled by the heavy breaks and quality rhymes from Rakim.

**Four Stars**

8. "Mahogany"

This one marks a significant change in Ra' as for once he switches his attention from "murdering MCs", to getting intimate with girls. Although he starts off well in his newly-found storytelling style, it quickly deteriorate into a typical track by himself. There are odd sections of quality, but generally, it's quite plain.

**Three Stars**

9. "Keep 'Em Eager To Listen"

On this one you have Rakim go into detail on how well thought-out his raps are by getting deep about what thought he processes when making music and how to engae the listener, however it may not have really appealed to all, as I didn't really like what was done here as muc as others.

**Three Stars**

10. "Set 'Em Straight"

When ending things, the often secretive Rakim finally opens himself up as we draw to a close, but only to say why he doesn't often let the media get in on his life outside the Hip Hop game. I found it to be a strong way to finish things off as it, as others within the album act as new directions for the duo.

**Four Stars**

I would have to say that this one is a lot more like "Follow The Leader" than "Paid In Full", and to me, this is a negative thing, however you can tell that the pair have what is needed to come up with very strong things with amazing raps, and production which varies, yet has times where it is nothing short of spectacular.

Summary: Eric B. & Rakim's third album